El Salvador was represented at the OTI Festival 1997 with the song "", written and performed by Rafael Alfaro. The Salvadoran participating broadcaster, (TCS), selected its entry through a national televised competition with several phases. The song failed to qualify in the semi-final.
(TCS) held a national competition with five televised qualifying rounds and a final to select its entry for the 26th edition of the OTI Festival. The competition took place within the regular weekly show , was presented by Willie Maldonado, and was broadcast on .
The jury in the final was composed by Janet Cienfuegos, Ernesto González, Ana Lilian RodrÃÂguez, Eduardo Fuentes, and Patricia Valiente. Following each performance, every juror scored each the lyrics, music, and originality between 1 and 10 points.
The winner was "", written and performed by Rafael Alfaro, who received the trophy; with "", written by MartÃÂn Alonso Barriere and performed by Cecilia Regalado, placing second and receiving the trophy; and "", written by Daniel Urrutia and performed by Magaly Zelaya Campos, placing third and receiving the trophy. Ricardo Escalante and Julio Roberto Hernández also received a crystal trophy.
On 24âÂÂ25 October 1997, the OTI Festival was held at in Lima, Peru, hosted by (CPR), and broadcast live throughout Ibero-America. Rafael Alfaro performed "" in the semi-final, with VÃÂctor Salazar conducting the event's orchestra, and not qualifying for the final.